Huskers Fall to Colorado State

Fort Collins, Colo. - In front of a boisterous record-setting crowd at Moby Arena on Friday night, the fifth-ranked Huskers fell to the No. 15 Colorado State Rams 3-2 (25-12, 25-11, 16-25, 20-25, 9-15).In their second five-set match of the season, the Huskers could not withstand the comeback effort from the Rams.

Gina Mancuso led the Huskers with 24 kills on 41 attempts, totaling a hitting percentage of .341. Hannah Werth had 12 kills, while Brooke Delano had 10 of her own. Lauren Cook totaled 49 assists, while Werth had 15 digs on the night. The Huskers and Rams each had a team hitting percentage of .212.

In the first set the Huskers took an early lead and never looked back despite the efforts of Colorado State, who had no answer for the Husker offense. Nebraska took the first set, 25-12.

The Huskers notched a .483 hitting percentage in the first set, behind the efforts of Gina Mancuso, who had six kills on seven attacks, boasting a .714 hitting percentage. Hannah Werth tabbed three kills on four attacks for a hitting percentage of .750, while Lauren Cook had 11 assists. Nebraska totaled four team blocks to CSU's zero. The Husker defense also held the Rams to a .033 hitting percentage.

Nebraska jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the second set, eventually stretching it to 19-5 and taking the set, 25-11.

Mancuso and Delano led the Huskers again in the second set with four kills apiece. Werth also totaled three kills for the set. Nebraska boasted a hitting percentage of .357, compared to Colorado State's .080. Jordan Wilberger and Werth led the Huskers in blocks, with the team totaling one each for the set. Nebraska also notched nine total team digs behind the efforts of Lara Dykstra, who had four. The Huskers held CSU to a hitting percentage of .080 and only eight kills.

Colorado State came out firing after the break, taking the third set 25-16.

Mancuso had five kills in the third set, while Werth had three. The Rams held NU to a .057 hitting percentage, while CSU racked up a hitting percentage of .348. Colorado State totaled four team blocks to Nebraska's one.

In the fourth set the Huskers and Rams fought point for point. Colorado State went up 16-12 before Nebraska had to call a timeout. Nebraska came back to make it 17-16, but eventually fell 25-20 after fighting for each point.

In the fourth set the Rams held the Huskers to a .194 hitting percentage. Mancuso had six kills on eight attacks, while Morgan Broekhuis notched five kills and Delano had three of her won. Cook tabbed 13 assists, but Nebraska could not stop CSU behind their.343 hitting percentage.

NU fought back and forth with CSU in the fifth set, but the Rams took a late lead at 12-8. Nebraska could not make up for lost ground and fell to Colorado State 15-9. The Rams took the match 3-2 and handed the Huskers their first loss of the season.

The Huskers return home next weekend to host the Ameritus Player's Challenge at the Coliseum. Nebraska will take on Creighton on Thursday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. The match will air live on NET. The Huskers then host St. Mary's on Friday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Coliseum and close the weekend against Weber State on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 2 p.m.